Board of Dental Examiners License Application
Licensing requirements for licensed Dentists and Dental Hygienists. The Board has rules governing the scope of practice of Dental Assistants in New Hampshire (see Laws and Rules).
Applicants who have taken the ADEX exam with manikin component (no "live patient") in the year 2020 or 2021 may reference Den 301.01 and 301.02 for guidance regarding the temporary acceptance of the manikin exams.
- Dentist Application for Licensure
- Dental Hygienist Application for Licensure
- Initial Application to Administer General Anesthesia and/or Sedation
Dentists
Applications: Applicants are required to be graduates of a school that awards the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and is recognized by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, and are eligible for licensure either by examination or endorsement certificate.
Examination: Applicants shall have taken and passed the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) examination, or other similar U.S. regional or state clinical examination acceptable to the Board within the last 3 years. The written portion of the ADEX must be passed by all applicants for licensure by examination. Refer to Den 302.04(a).
Endorsement Certification: For the 3 years immediately prior to submitting an application, the applicant is required to have maintained an active dental practice in one or more states, or been in a dental specialty training program, or have been in active military dental service, or any combination of the aforementioned. An applicant must also have taken and passed the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) examination, or other similar U.S. regional or state board clinical examination for dentists, including a periodontal/scaling exam.
Dental licenses are renewed biennially between February and April of even-numbered years.
Dental Hygienists
Applications: Applicants are required to be graduates of a school of dentistry or a school of dental hygiene in an institution of higher education, the program of which is accredited by a national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, and are eligible for licensure either by examination or endorsement certificate.
Examination: Applicants shall have taken and passed the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) dental hygiene examination, or other similar U.S. regional or state board clinical examination acceptable to the Board, within the last 3 years. Refer to Den 302.03.
Endorsement Certification: Requires an applicant to have a current, unsuspended, unrestricted license to practice dental hygiene in another state and to have practiced clinical dental hygiene in one or more states within the last 3 years. Applicants shall have successfully completed the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) dental hygiene examination, or other similar U.S. regional or state board clinical examination acceptable to the Board for dental hygienists. Refer to Den 301.01(g) & (h).
Dental hygienist licenses are renewed biennially between February and April of odd-numbered years.